Repower vs Rebuild: Which, and Why?

[mesquaukee]

Isolated or remote areas favors old tech. Old tech are old rebuildable engines that do not require electronics or electrical devices to run. Old tech engines can withstand overheating better that new tech.

One learns a lot about diesel engines removing all the bits and pieces from the block and then reinstalling them.
That knowledge may be of use one day.

[Laidback]

It would be useful to know :-

a) which makes and models of diesel engines require electronics so that they can run?

b) Which new makes and models can be taken out by a near lightning strike?

c) Which makes and models of diesel engines are being referred to in this quote:- "almost all modern electronically controlled diesels have a reduced running spped where the ECU fails. Anyway its an electronic future as, in practice diesels need electronc controls to meet current and forthcoming emmisions controls"

[sailorboy1]

Hell I didn't even know that there are diesels that require electronics! Beside having diesel on board instead of gas, the big plus of diesels are that they don't need electronics etc to run.

But I think this is different topic.

Seems funny that compared to all the things people are willing to do to thier boats themselves that they aren't willing to rebuild thier diesels.

[jkleins]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Seems funny that compared to all the things people are willing to do to thier boats themselves that they aren't willing to rebuild thier diesels.

I agree. I would do anything else on the boat if needed but rebuilding the diesel is something I would never consider. Maybe the industry has convinced us that working on diesels requires special skills that most of us don't have. Or it really requires specials skills that most of us don't have.

...or that you need lots of special tools.

Jim

[steve_hendry]

to goboatingnow: in practice, rebuilt older Diesels don't have to meet current and future emissions standards, so that's a point in favor of rebuilding.

[mesquaukee]

Originally Posted by jkleins

I agree. I would do anything else on the boat if needed but rebuilding the diesel is something I would never consider. Maybe the industry has convinced us that working on diesels requires special skills that most of us don't have. Or it really requires specials skills that most of us don't have.

...or that you need lots of special tools.

Jim

The actual rebuild of the engine requires machine tools, special skills and is done in a machine shop

If you can hang onto a wrench and don't mind living in a tight space for a while the only "special" skills required are cleanliness, an attention to detail and the patience to free up frozen bolts.
You simply unbolt parts from the block and keep track of them. The fuel lines and injection pump requires extra care to prevent any dirt from contaminating the fuel passage ways. Some help may be required for the timing of the injection pump. You may need some help with gaskets and such but it is all straight forward.
Lifting out the block is the hardest part.